| Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 1041A recorded on December 1, 1985 teaching from Luke 2:1 – The Precious Birth of our Savior. |
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens explores Luke 2:1, the birth of Jesus within the historical context of Caesar Augustus’s reign. Stevens uses Augustus’s absolute power as a backdrop to highlight God’s sovereignty, emphasizing how the emperor’s census, intended to assert Roman dominance, inadvertently fulfilled the prophecy of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. Pastor Stevens further draws parallels between the humble and impoverished circumstances of Jesus’ birth in a manger and the spiritual “squalor” of the human heart, suggesting that Jesus’ arrival brings transformation and renewal. Stevens ultimately aims to inspire listeners to invite Jesus into their lives, mirroring the shepherds’ transformative experience upon witnessing Jesus’ birth.